A group of community-minded Southern Nevadans combined forces recently to help provide backpacks and school supplies to underserved youth; and the donation also included a 2016 15 passenger Chevrolet van.
The van was donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada by Signature Real Estate Group and Citywide Home Loans, among others who helped raise the funds for the purchase of the van. The backpacks and other supplies were collected from residents of Las Vegas. Findlay Chevrolet hosted a two-hour radio remote with the Mix 94.1 radio Friday at the dealership off I-215 between Jones and Rainbow boulevards.

“A few friends from Leadership Las Vegas (a wing of the Metro Chamber of Commerce) suggested that they wanted to make a difference in our community,” explained Findlay Chevrolet general manager Doug Fleming.
The creation of the endeavor was sparked by the fact that four members all came from Leadership Las Vegas, including Findlay Automotive Group chief accounting officer Chad Leavitt, Brian Rice, COO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada; Andy Bischel, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada; and Vandana Bhalla, one of the corporate brokers for Signature Real Estate Group.

Bhalla approached Leavitt about the possibility of working together and donating the van. Her vision became a reality and the 2016 15-passenger Chevrolet van can now be used to transport young students to and from 14 Boys & Girls Club locations in Southern Nevada.

Bhalla lead the charge by rallying Signature Real Estate Group agents and others to pitch in and raise the money for the van. Donors were given plaques as recognition for their contributions.

Brandon Roberts, Owner and Corporate Broker at Signature Real Estate Group added, “We pride ourselves in having an office culture in taking care of the community in which we live.”

The automotive group created a special promotion Friday at Findlay Chevrolet where the month long drive concluded with school supplies and the van being donated. The end result was a heartwarming and very effective promotional effort that assisted hundreds of Clark County School District students who were faced with the reality of starting the 2017-2018 school years without the necessary tools.

Another key participant in the drive to purchase the van was Shelly Panzarella, a branch manager with Citywide Home Loans. “This was beyond our expectations,” she said.

Bischel said the van would come in very handy for the Boys & Girls Clubs. “We really need multiple vans to get more kids to and from school,’ he explained. “It will be used for field trips. Also, the children in our neighborhoods desperately need supplies.”

In both car sales and real estate, networking is considered key to the success of automobile dealerships and real estate offices.

“No question about that,” said Fleming, whose dealership is continually sponsoring various community-minded events throughout the year. “Plus, there’s a wonderful feeling in knowing that you have helped young people at the Boys & Girls Clubs. One hundred percent of the supplies and backpacks collected will be given to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada.”

Fleming also said the backpacks, supplies and the van that was donated are evidence that Las Vegas is a caring community. “It’s stunning how many of our young people simply don’t have the tools necessary for being successful in school,” said Fleming. “The students will benefit from this day for many years to come.”
Both Roberts and Fleming said the promotion would continue in the future.

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